June 18, 2001
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Get the The Inside Scoop on ASU athletics.
By Nick Murphy
This week I want to talk about you, the fans, and what you can do to help us win football games. Obviously we have the same aspirations for our team as you do. Go to the Rose Bowl, win a National Championship, beat the hell out of UofA every year with no exceptions, and so on and so forth. Many of the emails I received this week asked what people could do to help us win. The answer is, do whatever you can to support the athletic department! Showing up to games is the best and easiest way for most people to show their support. Spend your money on season tickets and come watch us play every Saturday. Tell your friends to come also. Come early, and leave late. Tailgate. Enjoy the atmosphere of college football.
The most successful teams in the NCAA have problems coming up with enough tickets to satisfy the demand to watch them play. Take for example the Oregon Ducks (I know what you are thinking, and trust me... I hate them more than you do). In 2000 the Ducks averaged 45,093 spectators in a stadium with a capacity of 41,698. That's almost 4,000 over capacity each week. What's more, they have exceeded capacity five of the last six years. The Ducks, and their fans, have put together a current streak of 20 straight home wins, and Autzen Stadium has become a very difficult place to play! After 20 games without a loss, many teams go to Eugene thinking that it will take some type of miracle to win a game up there. That's exactly what teams need to feel when they come into Sun Devil Stadium. It should be too hot, too loud, and too intimidating for anyone to dream that they can win on our field.
We were ahead by 14 points last year against Oregon in the fourth quarter. One minute, thirty seconds, and two overtimes later, they won. That Duck team went 10-2, won their bowl game against Texas, and were ranked very high at the end of the 2000 season. What's my point? As individuals we were more talented than Oregon. We played well enough to win, and we should have. Why were only 53,000 in attendance?
In October, the #4 Washington Huskies came to town (you remember them, they went on to win the Rose Bowl). Down by 6, with the ball near midfield and 10 minutes remaining, people began filing out of the stadium. That was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. At the time, we were sporting a 4-1 record, and still had a legitimate spot at Pasadena had we scored a single touchdown in the time remaining. It was an ugly and sloppy game, but we were still very much in it. Situations like that are the times when we need our fans the most. It's difficult to get out of a rut late in a game because frustration sets in.
When a crowd picks a team up by cheering, it has the same effect as a good friend saying "Come on, I know you can do it," during a difficult workout. Motivation is a strange thing. I know many people use the excuse that they really want to do something, and they need to do it, but its difficult without someone to "make" you do it. Often times, that "make" is just someone saying, "I'm here for you. We can do this." When we are playing hard but nothing seems to go our way, the crowd can be like that friend who says, "We can do this." Sometimes that's all it takes. Just ask the Ducks! Did I mention they have a waiting list of 1,150 for season tickets?
We have 7 home games in 2001. That includes last year's #4 Washington, #6 Oregon St, all three of our non-conference games, and the UofA. To not buy season tickets this season would be a sin for any real Devils fan. We have a new staff, and new attitude, as well as the nucleus (51 returning lettermen) of a team that played harder, and was better, than our record showed in 2000.
A sellout home crowd every week would make a world of difference to us! My high school coach used to say, "Do the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves." Any "little" thing you can do as an individual to make Sun Devil Stadium more intimidating for the visitors, and more supportive for us, will help us accomplish the big things in close games. I'll see each and every one of you on September 8th at 7pm, when the San Diego State Aztecs become the first team to witness the new atmosphere of a rocking and insane Sun Devil Stadium.
Nick can be reached via email at MurphysLaw84@aol.com.